Tour description

Travel by bicycle and ship: a unique concept, where a bike holiday and a journey on a comfortable ship are combined. Cycling cruises are ideal for those who like to cycle during the day and explore beautiful areas, without giving up a comfortable way of travelling. During our tours you don’t have to pack and un-pack your suitcases every day to travel from one beautiful place to the next!

What could provide a more pleasant break than a trip to the Saar and the Moselle, two rivers which wind through enchanting countryside, where castles on the hills guard the route and you can visit market squares surrounded by timbered houses? Is it any wonder that Moselle wine has built up such a good name? The journey through the Moselle valley between Koblenz and Trier traverses some of Germany’s most beautiful countryside. You will meet winegrowers and bottlers on the way, but also cyclists from all around the world.

The history of this region even goes back to the Roman Era, some 2,000 years ago. Beautiful timbered houses, vineyards, the Porta Nigra in Trier, the "German corner" (conjunction of Moselle and Rhine) in Koblenz and Saarburg (also known as "little Venice") are but a few of the highlights during this trip.

The Moselle is the Rhine's longest tributary and it is also the second most important shipping route in Germany. The Saar, which has the greatest abundance of water, is the Moselle’s longest tributary.

Minimum number of participants: 40

Note: You'll receive detailed route information at the tour start. If you'd like to do some reading before you go, we recommend the Mosel Bike Trail book by Esterbauer Publishing. You can purchase it in advance through gotrekkers.com. Enter "Mosel" in the search box. The rates are in Canadian dollars.

Day 1: Koblenz
Individual arrival to Koblenz. Embarkation starts at 4:00pm. The captain and his crew welcome you on board. Spend your evening and first night in Koblenz.
Overnight in Koblenz.

Day 2: Alken – Moselkern – Cochem (18 miles/29 km)
Begin your day with a cruise to Alken. From there you go by bike to Moselkern and on to Cochem. Cochem is a lovely little town with historical half-timbered-houses and a picturesque Old town.
Overnight in Cochem.

Day 3: Cochem – Zell on the Mosel (24 miles/39 km)
The bike tour will first take you to Beilstein, which you can explore during a short tour on your own. Pass Europe’s steepest vineyard at Bremmer Calmont. Today’s tour ends in the wine village of Zell on the Moselle. In the evening you will have the chance to visit a local winegrowers place and enjoy a wine tasting with the famous Moselle wines (excursion optional, bookable on board).
Overnight in Zell on the Mosel.

Day 4: Zell on the Mosel – Bernkastel-Kues (26 miles/43 km)
Today you cycle through the romantic Traben-Trarbach, where Jugendstil architecture shows its best side. After that, the half-timbered houses of Bernkastel-Kues and the medieval market square invites you for a rest. You will reach the ship in Kues after a tour through town.
Overnight in Bernkastel-Kues.

Day 5: Bernkastel-Kues – Mehring (29 miles/47 km)
Cycle tour to Piesport, the oldest winegrowing community along the Moselle. Here you can book a guided tour and visit the Roman cellars and the vineyards. Further on you come to Neumagen-Dhron which is the oldest wine city of Germany. After the lunch break the tour continues to Mehring.
Overnight in Mehring.

Day 6: Mehring – Trier (16-18 miles/26-29 km)
You will cycle via Pfalzel to Trier, where the ship is waiting for you. In the afternoon you can explore the city in a special kind of way: book a city walk with a "traditional Roman." Trier is one of the oldest cities in Germany. Its Roman roots are still visible in impressive buildings as the Porta Nigra, the Konstantin basilica and the Amphitheatre.
Overnight in Trier.

Day 7: Trier – Wasserbillig – Saarburg (23 miles/38 km)
Today you will be cycling along the river from Trier to Saarburg, also known as "Little Venice." In its center, you will find a waterfall 20 meters deep.
Overnight in Saarburg.

Day 8: Individual departure
After breakfast: disembarkation and end of tour.

Day 1: Saarburg
Individual arrival to Saarburg. You may embark as early as 4:00pm. The crew welcomes you on board. You will spend the first night and evening in Saarburg. In the evening you will have the opportunity to explore Saarburg: in its center is a waterfall of 20 meters deep.
Overnight in Saarburg.

Day 2: Saarburg – Wasserbillig – Trier (23 miles/38 km)
Today you will cycle from Saarburg along the idyllic nature reserve of the abandoned mean-der of the River Saar. Further on to Wasserbillig in Luxemburg and from here to the Igeler Säule. Later you will reach Trier, where the ship will be waiting for you. In the afternoon you can explore the city in a special kind of way. Book a city walking tour with a "traditional Roman."
Overnight in Trier.

Day 3: Trier – Mehring (16-18 miles/26-29 km)
After breakfast, you cycle via Pfalzel to Mehring, the largest winegrowers' community in the Moselle-Saar-Ruwer region.
Overnight in Mehring.

Day 4: Mehring – Bernkastel-Kues (28 miles/46 km)
Your bike tour leads you to Bernkastel-Kues. The marketplace from the Middle Ages with many wood-timbered houses invites you for a rest. On your way, you come to Neumagen-Dhron which is the oldest wine city of Germany. Further on you reach Piesport, the oldest winegrowing community along the Moselle. Here you can book a guided tour and visit the Roman cellars and the vineyards.
Overnight in Bernkastel-Kues.

Day 5: Bernkastel Kues – Traben-Trarbach – Zell on the Mosel (26 miles/43 km)
Today's bike tour brings you to romantic Traben-Trarbach, where Jungendstil architecture shows its best side. Continuing to Zell, a well-known wine village on the Mosel. In the evening you are invited to taste the famous Moselle wines (optional excursion, bookable on board).
Overnight in Zell on the Mosel.

Day 6: Zell on the Mosel – Beilstein – Cochem (24 miles/39 km)
The perfect maintained historical center of Beilstein, "the Sleeping Beauty of the Mosel," is waiting for you. Your goal for today is Cochem with the Reichsburg. Cochem is a lovely little town with historical half-timbered houses and a picturesque Old town.
Overnight in Cochem.

Day 7: Cochem – Alken (18 miles/29 km)
Today you cycle to Alken, one of the oldest villages along the Mosel. Here your boat is awaiting you. Enjoy the beautiful passing landscape from aboard, as the boat brings you to Koblenz, the well-known meeting of the Moselle and Rhine Rivers.
Overnight in Koblenz.

Day 8: Individual departure
After breakfast: disembarkation and end of the tour.

The tour operator reserves the right to make changes of routing and programme. If there is low or high water and a route cannot be shipped, the captain reserves the right to change the route in view of your safety (this cannot be accepted as a reason for free withdrawal).

Surface and terrain

The quality of the bike paths on this tour are very good. The Moselle Cycle Path follows primarily flat asphalted roads, without any significant climbs.

You may also choose to stay on board the ship at any time throughout the tour.

Boats

How to get there

There are numerous train connections between Frankfurt and Saarburg/Koblenz.

There is a return journey to either Kobelnz or Saarburg. By train it takes 2 hours and costs approximately €24 per person. You can arrange transfer (minimum of 4 people) for €75 per person (limited space is available; reservations are required in advance at booking, but payable on site. Transfer of your own bike is available for €15, payable on site).

Contact us with any questions about booking and paying for your tour through BikeTours.com. We look forward to serving you!

SE Tours GmbH Terms and Conditions

Cancellation
You can always cancel prior to departure. Cancellation, booking changes and declarations of change must always be made in writing. In this case, we will promptly send you a confirmation. In the event of cancellation, we will charge compensation in the form of a percentage of the tour price for any travel arrangements already made.

Cancellation terms

Up to the 84th day prior to departure 20%

83rd to 42nd day prior to departure 30%

41st to 28th day prior to departure 60%

27th to 4th day prior to departure 80%

From the 3rd day prior to departure or no show 90%

1. Registration and confirmation
By registering, you make a binding offer to you for conclusion a tour contract on the basis of the booking and payment terms and conditions and the respective folder or catalogue offer. The registration can take place in writing, orally or by telephone. You also make the registration on behalf of all participants listed in the registration, for whose contractual obligations you will be liable as for your own obligations, provided that you have expressly assumed such a separate agreement by separate declaration. The contract comes into existence upon our acceptance of the registration. You will receive a written confirmation from us or your booking centre.

3. Travel details and services
The scope of the contractually agreed services is as specified in the respective offer, the general information in the catalogue and the details in the travel confirmation.

4. Service changes
Changes or deviations of individual tour services from the agreed content of the tour contract, which become necessary after the conclusion of the contract and that were not caused by us in bad faith, are permitted provided that the changes or deviations are not significant and do not impair the overall makeup of the booked tour. Any warranty claims for defects of the changed services shall remain unaffected. We will inform you or your booking centre without delay of any service changes or deviations.

4.1 Daily description
The itinerary may change if local circumstances (e.g. weather, berth is already serving other vessels or other important nautical reasons in the case of river and open sea cruises and bicycle and ship tours). In this case, the programme announced on the previous day shall be relevant.

5. Price changes
a) The tour operator may demand price increases of up to 5 percent of the total tour price if more than four months lie between the conclusion of the contract and the agreed tour price.
b) A price increase may only be demanded up to the 21st day prior to the agreed date of departure. The tour operator shall explain any price change permissible according to section 5.a) without delay after the reason for the price increase comes to its attention.
c) In the case of price increases of more than 5 percent of the total tour price after the conclusion of the contract, the traveller may cancel free of charge or request participation in another, at least equivalent tour if the tour operator is able to offer such a tour from the available portfolio without any added costs for the traveller.

6. Cancellation by the customer, booking changes, substitute participants6.1 Cancellation
You can always cancel prior to departure. Cancellation, booking changes and declarations of change must always be made in writing. In this case, we will promptly send you a confirmation. In the event of cancellation, we will charge compensation in the form of a percentage of the tour price for any travel arrangements already made.

6.1.4 Bicycle/ship tours

Up to the 84th day prior to departure 20%

83rd to 42nd day prior to departure 30%

41st to 28th day prior to departure 60%

27th to 4th day prior to departure 80%

From the 3rd day prior to departure or no show 90%

6.2 Booking changes
If changes with respect to the date of the tour, the destination, the place of departure, the accommodation or the mode of transport are performed at your request after booking the tour, we will charge a fee of €30.00/person for the booking change up to 50 days prior to departure. In the case of later booking changes, we usually incur the same costs as if you had cancelled the tour. Therefore, we will have to charge you for the same costs as for a cancellation, depending on the time of the booking change.

6.3. Substitute participants
It is generally possible to change the name or to designate a substitute for a booked tour. The substitute must fulfil the tour requirements, and this person's participation in the tour must not be debarred by any statutory or official regulations. If a substitute enters into the contract, you will be jointly and severally liable for the tour price and any additional costs that result from the third party's entry. In this case, the tour operator will charge a processing fee of €30.00 for ship, bus and railway tours and up to €150.00 for air travel. The cancellation fees of the airways shall apply to flights that are not part of the package tour we offer. Please feel free to ask for information on the cancellation terms before booking a flight. Moreover, an entitlement to transport shall exist only if the full tour price has been credited to one of our accounts prior to departure.

7. Unused services
If you do not use individual tour services due to early return or other mandatory reasons, we will endeavour to obtain a refund of the saved expenses from the service providers. This obligation shall not apply to insignificant services or if a refund is debarred by statutory or official provisions.

8. Cancellation and termination by the tour operator
In the following cases, we may cancel the tour contract prior to departure or terminate the tour contract after departure:
a) Without prior notice, if the traveller substantially disturbs the performance of the tour despite our warning or if the traveller breaches the contract to such an extent that immediate cancellation of the contract is justified.
b) Up to 21 days prior to departure if an announced or officially determined minimum number of participants is not reached, if a minimum number of participants is indicated in the tour offer for the respective tour.

9. Cancellation of the contract due to force majeure
If the tour is significantly impeded, endangered or impaired due to force majeure that was not foreseeable at the conclusion of the contract, the contract may be terminated by you or by us.

10. Liability of the tour operator

10.1 Our own services
Within the scope of the due diligence of a prudent businessman, we shall be liable for:-meticulous tour preparation;-careful selection and monitoring of the service providers;-correctness of the description of all tour services specified in the catalogues, unless we announce an amendment to the information of the catalogue information according to section 3 prior to the conclusion of the contract, but not with respect to the information in site, hotel or other brochures not published by us, which have been supplied to us or our booking centres or enclosed with your tour documents;-due performance of the contractually agreed tour services.

10.2 Agents
We shall be liable for faults of the persons entrusted with the performance of the services. 10.3 Third-party services If regular transport services are made use of within the scope of a tour or in addition to the tour and you receive a ticket for this purpose, this shall be construed as third-party service insofar as we expressly indicate this in the tour offer. Therefore, we shall not be liable for the performance of the actual transport service.

11. Warranty

11.1 Remedy and cooperation obligations
If the tour is not performed according to contract, you can demand remedy. Notwithstanding our paramount performance obligation, this requires your collaboration. Thus, you are under the obligation to do everything that you can reasonably be expected to do to contribute to the solution of the problem and to minimise or avoid any damage that may arise. The tour operator may also remedy the situation by rendering equivalent substitute performance. The tour operator may refuse to remedy the situation if this would cause disproportionately high expenses.

11.2 Reduction of the tour price
You may request a reduction of the tour price for any period during which the tour is not performed according to contract. The tour price shall be reduced in the proportion of the value of the tour – had it been in a flawless state – to the actual value at the time of the sale. reduction shall not apply if you culpably failed to report the defect.

11.3 Termination of the contract
If the tour is substantially impaired by a defect and if we do not remedy the situation within a reasonable period despite your request, you may terminate the tour contract in accordance with the statutory provisions; for your own benefit and to secure proof, this should be done in writing. The same shall apply if the traveller cannot reasonably be expected to participate in the tour as a result of a defect due to an important reason that is evident to the tour operator. The determination of a period to remedy the situation shall not be necessary only if remedy is impossible or if the tour operator refuses to remedy the situation or if a special interest of the traveller justifies immediate termination. In this case, you shall owe us the portion of the tour price for the services already made use of, provided that these services were not entirely worthless to you.

11.4 Damages
Not withstanding the reduction or termination, you may claim damages due to non-performance, unless the defect of the tour is based on circumstances for which we are not responsible.

12. Passport, visa, customs, foreign exchange and health regulations, health requirements
We are responsible for informing citizens of the country in which the tour is offered about passport, visa and health regulations as well as any changes to these prior to departure. Information for citizens of other countries is available from the respective consulates. You are personally responsible for the compliance with all passport, visa and immigration formalities as well as all regulations relevant to the performance of the tour. Any disadvantages arising from non-compliance with these regulations shall be borne by you, unless these were caused by us through culpable misinformation or failure to provide information. If immigration regulations are not complied with and you are therefore unable to participate in the tour, we may charge you for the respective cancellation fees. Some of the tours offered are physically demanding. Therefore, you must make sure that you fulfil the health requirements.

13. Limitation of liability
You are personally responsible for the compliance with the German Road Traffic Regulations (StVO).

13.1 Contractual limitation of liability
Our contractual liability under tour contract law for damage except for personal injury is limited to the triple tour price, provided that the damage is not caused by intent or gross negligence or to the extent that we alone are responsible for a fault of a service provider.

13.2 Limitation of tortious liability
Provided that the damage was not caused by intent or gross negligence, compensation claims against us for tort are limited to €4,100.00 for property damage. If the triple tour price exceeds this amount, the liability for property damage shall be limited to the triple amount of the tour price. These maximum liability amounts apply per customer and tour.

13.3 Statutory limitation of liability
Compensation claims against us are limited or excluded to the extent that compensation claims against the service provider can only be asserted under certain conditions or limitations or are excluded under certain conditions due to international agreements or regulations based upon such (e.g. Section 664 of the German Commercial Code (HGB) for maritime transport, the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) and the innkeeper's liability pursuant to Sections 701 ff of the German Civil Code (BGB)), which are applicable to services to be performed by a service provider.

14. Exclusion of claims, statute of limitations and assignment
You may assert claims due to non-contractual performance of the tour against us within one month of the contractually designated end of the tour. After the end of this period, the traveller may assert claims if he was unable to comply with this period without any fault on his part. Claims of the traveller according to Sections 651 c to 651 f of the German Civil Code (BGB) shall expire after one year. This period begins on the date on which the tour should end according to contract. In the event of pending negotiations between the traveller and the tour operator about the claim or the circumstances establishing the claim, the limitation period shall be suspended until the traveller or tour operator refuses to continue the negotiations. At the earliest, the expiry shall take effect 3 months after the end of the suspension. You must submit all claims in writing.

15. Care duties in connection with bicycle tours/bicycle and ship tours
You shall be liable for damage or loss of bicycles and equipment assigned to you only if you detach yourself from the tour supervisor and are no longer in the sphere of influence of the tour supervisor, if you fail to comply with instructions of the tour supervisor concerning the handling and/or protection of the equipment or if you cause the damage or loss by negligence, gross negligence or intent. During individual bicycle tours without a tour supervisor, you shall be liable for damage or loss of bicycles and equipment assigned to you for use.

16. Insurance

16.1 Insolvency insurance
For the case of insolvency or bankruptcy, the tour operator has made sure that the paid tour price will be refunded to the extent that tour services are cancelled as a result. Moreover, any required expenses of the return trip will be refunded to you if such should be incurred as a result. In these cases, you will have a direct claim against R+V Versicherung AG as soon as you produce the certificate of insurance.

16.2 Travel insurance
For your own safety, we recommend duly taking out travel insurance, especially cancellation insurance and travel health insurance, including repatriation cover. These types of insurance are usually not included in the quoted tour price.

17. Jurisdiction
You can only bring legal action against us at our domicile in Bremerhaven, Germany. For any legal action that we bring against you, your domicile is relevant. The courts of Bremerhaven, Germany, shall have jurisdiction over registered merchants, persons who do not have any general place of jurisdiction in Germany and persons who have moved their domicile or habitual residence abroad or whose domicile or habitual residence is not known when the charges are filed.

18. Severability
Invalidity of individual provisions of the general booking terms and conditions does not result in invalidity of the entire booking terms and conditions or of the entire tour contract.

19. Data protection
All personal data that you make available to us for the processing of your tour are protected against misuse in accordance with the German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG).

Reviews

Saarburg to Koblenz Great Trip

A great way to get out and explore Germany and suitable for all levels of fitness. The staff was very friendly, caring and well organised, speaking English and German. Our October trip was a little wet but still beautiful....the colours of the Autumn Fall were spectacular. Riding through the quiet streets of the villages along the Moselle was like taking a step back in time. A great way to get a feel of Europe past and present. The meals and afternoon teas were amazing. Although the boat is old, it is well kept and extremely clean. Our bedding was much more comfortable than I expected judging from the photos and we slept well...no noises at night. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and felt very safe. Would highly recommend this trip.

star-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-fullPattyNOctober 18, 2016

Mosel Wine and Cake

The staff on the boat spoke English and most, including our guide were completely fluent. Language was not an issue. The food was varied and healthy, although favorite part of the services onboard was tea and cake at 3pm. Although they were comfortable to sit on, the bicycles were quite heavy. Not a big deal on the flat route we were biking, but they did require more effort to pedal than I would have preferred.

star-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-fullDebiOctober 3, 2016

Wonderful trip

Great boat staff and excellent dinners, wonderful scenery, excellent on board guide. Overall a great trip. I would highly recommend this trip if you want to see beautiful German villages, wine country, biking along a lovely river and learning German history.

star-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-fullRonCJuly 3, 2016

Beautiful Country, Food and Wine Outstanding

Easy ride along bike paths. Time to view castles, churches, and vineyards along the way. Met interesting fellow travelers from Australia and New Zealand. Saarburg was a great place to explore before the tour.